ALLAN Evans was one half of the defensive rock on which Aston Villa's success in the early-1980s was built.

He formed a telepathic relationship with Ken McNaught throughout Villa's glory years, which netted the league title, European Cup and Super Cup.

But whereas McNaught switched allegiances to West Brom in August 1983, Evans remained staunchly loyal, staying with the club through their dismal fall from grace and subsequent revival.

Signed in 1977 from Dunfermline, where he was a striker, he was quickly switched to the centre of defence where he stayed for a decade, notching up almost 500 games.

A tough-tackling Scot, who was almost as quick on his feet as he was dominant in the air, Evans deserved much more recognition at international level.

He made his Villa debut in March 1978 against Leicester City in a goalless home draw, going on to make nine starts at the end of that season as Villa finished eighth.

Initially alongside McNaught, he went on to forge solid partnerships throughout the mid and late-80s with Brendan Ormsby, Paul Elliott and Steve Sims.

He scored seven goals in Villa's title-winning season with notable strikes against Blues, three in two wins against Sunderland and a vital third against Middlesbrough in the penultimate game. In 1989 he moved to Leicester.

Full name: Allan James Evans.Date of birth: October 12, 1956.Born: Polbeath, near Edinburgh.Villa league career: June 1977-August 1989: 380 appearances, 51 goals.Honours for Villa: Division One Championship 1981, European Cup 1982, European Super Cup 1983, Second Division promotion 1987/88.

Villa Park highlight: Apart from the obvious glory in league and European Cup, Evans became a goal-scoring centre-half and scored six league goals in 1978/79, including a 3-1 win over soon-to-be champions Liverpool in April 1979. He got another eight league goals the following season - just one behind leading marksman Gary Shaw, and seven in Villa's league title-winning side of 1980/81.